Identification plate



y 1968 A. A. BIEN 3,383,784

IDENTIFICATION PLATE Filed Dec. 29, 1965 Q j w 40a E 16 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,383,784 IDENTIFICATION PLATE Alfred A. Bien, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 517,374 8 Claims. (Cl. 40-2.2)

ABETRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved serial number identification plate for motor vehicles and the like which has integrally formed tubular extrusions which are adapted to be received in cooperating apertures formed in the vehicle body. After the extrusions are received within the apertures, a suitable expanding mandrel-like member is drawn through the extrusion causing the ends thereof to flare outwardly on the blind side of the vehicle mounting panel. Any attempt to remove the identification plate as by drilling out the extrusions will render the identification plate unsuitable for further use, as, for example, application to another, stolen vehicle.

This invention relates generally to identification plates and more particularly to an identification plate carrying integrally formed means for securing the identification plate to a related article.

It has been accepted practice in the past to provide every automotive vehicle with an engine serial number and a vehicle serial number, each of which was determined and applied by the vehicle manufacturer. In the recent past, it has become accepted practice to eliminate, in may instances, the engine serial number while retaining a single vehicle serial number which is determined and applied by the vehicle manufacturer but employed for identifying both the vehicle and the engine therein. In such serial number plates or tags, it is customary to secure the serial number identification tag to the vehicle by means of two rivets which pass through a portion of the front door frame, often referred to as an A-post, and the identification plate or tag itself.

A very great number of vehicle thefts have occurred in the past and now appear to be increasing. The fact that serial number tags or plates are secured as by riveting to the vehicle itself does not present any sufficient deterrent to the stealing of vehicles and the subsequent selling thereof especially in states or areas other than those in which the vehicles were stolen.

The usual procedure employed in stealing the vehicle requires the removal of serial number identification tags from the vehicle and the replacement thereof with a serial number tag bearing a different number but usually removed from a vehicle of approximately the same make and model. In removing such an identification tag of the prior art the only thing that is required is the drilling-out of the rivets securing the plate to the vehicle and then the subsequent rivetingof the same tag to a different vehicle. This procedure of course results in hampering the efforts of the various law enforcement agencies in their search for and recovery of such stolen vehicles.

Accordingly, it is now proposed that a serial number identification tag be provided with means for securing said tag to the vehicle in such a manner that any subsequent attempt to remove and re-use the identification tag will result in its becoming totally useless.

Further, it is another object of this invention to provide a serial number identification tag which, because of its novel means for securing it to the vehicle, will readily indicate whether or not the serial number tag is the one originally placed on the vehicle by the manufacturer.

3,383,784 Patented May 21, 1968 "ice Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when reference is made to the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle provided with a serial number identification tag constructed and attached to said vehicle in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the serial number identification plate of this invention along with a fragmentary portion of the vehicle to which it is secured;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the serial number identification plate taken generally on the plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the identification plate held against a portion of the vehicle immediately prior to the fastening of said plate to said vehicle;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the identification plate and a portion of the vehicle to which it is secured; and

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary crosssectional views of another embodiment of this invention similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating the plate in various stages of being secured to a cooperating portion of the vehicle.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG- URE 1 illustrates a portion of an automotive vehicle 10 having formed therein a door opening 12 adapted to receive a cooperating door 14 which may be hinged to the forward door-framing member 16. Member 16 is often constructed of metal plates welded to each other to form a generally hollow-like structural support and is usually referred to as an A-post.

As is often the practice, the identification plate 18 of this invention is secured in a prominent location to the A-post 16 so as to be visible upon opening of the door 14. In the case of automotive vehicles, the identification plate 18 has formed therein, as by a suitable embossing process, a serial number which serves to identify that particular vehicle to which it was originally attached. For purposes of illustration, the digits comprising the serial number are shown in phantom line on the identification plate of FIGURE 2 which is an enlarged view of the plate 18 as shown in FIGURE 1 with a fragmentary portion of the A-post 16 included.

As is seen in both FIGURES 2 and 3, the identification plate 18, which may be formed to be of generally rectangular shape, is provided with tubular projections 20 and 22 which are formed as by a metal drawing operation from the material forming the basic identification plate 18. The A-post or supporting member 16 is provided with apertures 24 and 26 formed therethrough and spaced apart from each other a distance so as to accommodate the projections 20 and 22, respectively. The projections 20 and 22 have their respective outer diameters 28 and 30 of a size so as to be closely received within the apertures 24 and 26. Further, each of the projections 20 and 22 are of a length substantially greater than the thickness of the supporting member 16 thereby providing some tubular portion which can be formed over onto the back side 17 of member 16 as is illustrated in FIGURES 2, 4 and 7.

As illustrated also in FIGURE 3, two expanding pins or rivet-like members 32 and 34 are received through apertures 36 and 38 of the extensions 20 and 22, respectively. Each of the pins 32 and 34 are provided with a shank 40 which has a portion 42 of reduced diameter or cross-sectional area. Further, each of the shanks 40 is also provided with an outwardly tapered portion 44 which has, in turn, an integrally formed enlarged head 46.

In applying the serial number identification tag 18 to the vehicle, the expansion pins 32 and 34 are first inserted through apertures 36 and 38 of tubular extensions and 22, respectively, and the plate 18 and pins are then brought against support 16 by passing the heads 46 and extensions 20 and 22 through apertures 36 and 38 of support member 16. Subsequently, a suitable tool 43, commercially available, is positioned about each of the expansion pins 32 and 34 and against the outer surface 50 of plate 18. As tool 48 is actuated it simultaneously grips, for example, pin 32 and bears against surface 50 of plate 18. Continued actuation of tool 48 results in pin 32 being drawn to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 3, thereby causing the tapered portion 44 to expand the end of tubular projection 20. The expansion of the end of projection 20 is a plastic deformation causing it to squeeze the support member 16 between itself and the inner surface 52 of plate 18.

The amount of force applied by tool 48 is controlled by the portion 42 of reduced cross-sectional area. That is, upon achieving a suificient force, the tensile stress in pin 32 is localized in portion 42 causing that portion to fail. The finally secured plate 18 and failed expansion pin 32 are illustrated in FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. All elements which are like or similar to those of FIGURES 1 through 4 are identified with like reference numerals. It can be seen that in the arrangement of FIGURE 5, an expansion pin 54 replaces the previously described pins 32 and 34. In comparison, expansion member 54 is comprised of a shank 56 provided with a generally conical-like head portion 58. However, head 58 is not solid in that it has formed therein and generally centrally thereof, a recess or cavity 60. Consequently, as tool 48 engages pin 54 and plate 13 and starts to draw pin 54 to the left as previously described with reference to FIGURE 3, the projecting end of tubular portion 20 is engaged by the conical-like head 58 and starts to undergo radial expansion as illustrated generally in FIGURE 6.

Continued movement of pin 54 to the left causes a corresponding increase in the radial expansion of the projecting end of tubular portion 20. However, as the head 53 is forced into the area generally defined by aperture 24 formed in member 16, the head 58 undergoes a compressive force causing the head 58 to be squeezed generally radially inwardly to a size permitting the withdrawal of the entire pin 54 including the head end 58 from support 16 and identification plate 18. As the head 58 collapses, it assumes a configuration as that generally illustrated by 58a of FIGURE 7. It should also be noted that at this time the recess or cavity 6%) within head 58 has been substantially totally collapsed and thereby assumes somewhat a fissure-like configuration indicated at 60a, also of FIGURE 7.

In view of the above it should be apparent that in order to remove the identification plate 18, it would be necessary to somehow remove or eliminate the flared or expanded end of tubular projection 20. In order to accomplish this, it would be necessary to remove the metal defining the tubular projection 26 as by, for example, employing a drill of a diameter closely approaching the diameter of the mounting aperture 24 in support member 16. The plate 18 could then be removed from, as is assumed in this case, the automotive vehicle. However, any attempt to reuse the serial number identification plate 18 would soon indicate to one acquainted with this particular type of identification plate, the fact that the plate has been removed from some other vehicle.

For example, in order to re-use the plate 18, one of two approaches could be employed. The first being, the use of a conventional blind rivet as is the customary practice of the prior art, or the plate 18 could be secured to the support 16 as by means of an adhesive joining the abutting surfaces to each other. However, if a rivet were to be employed, it would be apparent to anyone that the plate had in fact been previously removed from another vehicle because it would be common knowledge that the, for example, vehicles of a certain make and model would not use rivets, but would be employing means of securing the identification plate in accordance with this invention.

If an adhesive were to be employed, then it would still be easy to detect whether a serial number tag has been removed and re-used on a different vehicle. This could be achieved by shining a light into the open aperture in order to see whether two layers of metal could be identified. If two layers of metal were apparent, it would indicate that the tubular projection had been previously removed. The two layers of metal referred to would, of course, be the first layer comprising the complete portion of the identification plate 18 while the second layer of metal would be that defining the support portion 16.

The invention herein disclosed also contemplates the further provision of means for preventing the removal of such an identification tag and then the redrawing of a tubular portion so as to effect a connection between such a redrawn tubular portion to a support member such as 16. The means contemplated are shown at 62 and 64 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it can be seen that a plurality of arcuate slots are formed generally about each of the tubular portions. For example, the tubular portion 20 would be provided with arcuate slots 66, 68 and 70 while tubular portion 22 would be provided with similar arcuate slots 72, 74 and 76. The slots would extend through the thickness of the material forming plate 18, as indicated in FIGURE 5. The provision of such arcuate slots disposed some radial distance away from and about the tubular projection 20 presents an area for stress concentration. Such an area or areas exist between successive elongated arcuate slots, as for example, between slots 66 and 68, slots 68 and 70 and slots 70 and 66. Accordingly, any attempt to redraw another tubular projection from the metal forming the plate 18 would require the redrawing of that metal immediately surrounding the previously formed tubular projection 20 which would be in the area between and surrounding the elongated arcuate slots. Consequently, any attempt to redraw the metal would result in an immediate fracture and failure around such arcuate slots thereby rendering the identification plate 18 totally useless.

Although only one embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof has been disclosed and described, it is apparent that other embodiments and modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An identification plate and fastening means for attaching said plate to an article to be identified comprising, in combination, an identification plate having a plate portion with an aperture formed therein, a generally tubular projection formed integrally with said plate portion and projecting outwardly from one face of said plate portion in alignment with the aperture therein, and a fastener member having a shank adapted to be slidably received within said tubular projection with one end thereof projecting beyond the other face of said plate portion for grasping by a suitable tool, said fastener member further including an enlarged head at the other end of said shank having a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said tubular projection 50 that said projection with said fastener member received slidably therein may be passed enlarged end first through a suitable aperture in a wall portion of the article to be identified whereafter the shank portion may be grasped by said tool to move said fastener member shank end first axially within said tubular projection and press said head against the end of said tubular projection to flare the same and press it against said wall portion.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said shank includes a reduced diameter portion adjacent said enlarged head, said reduced diameter portion providing an area of localized stress at which the fastener will fail and separate in response to the application of sufficient axial force to said shank.

3. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said head is weakened to allow radially inward collapsing movement thereof so that, after flarin the end of said tubular projection, said head may collapse to allow it to be pulled through the tubular projection to separate the fastener member from the plate.

4. An identification plate adapted for permanent attachment to an article to be identified, comprising a plate portion, at least one generally tubular projection formed integrally with said plate portion, said tubular projection being adapted to be received within a cooperating mounting aperture formed in a wall portion of said article to be identified, said tubular projection also being of an axial length sufiicient to permit the extension thereof through said aperture and beyond said wall portion, said tubular projection having an end portion adapted to be deformed radially outwardly so as to preclude withdrawal thereof from said aperture, said plate portion further including means forming an area for stress concentrations in said plate portion generally about said tubular projection.

5. An identification plate adapted for permanent attachment to an article to be identified, comprising a plate portion, at least one generally tubular projection formed integrally with said plate portion, said tubular projection being adapted to be received within a cooperating mountin aperture formed in a wall portion of said article to be identified, said tubular projection also being of an axial length sufiicient to permit the extension thereof through said aperture and beyond said wall portion, said tubular projection having an end portion adapted to be deformed radially outwardly so as to preclude withdrawal thereof from said aperture, said plate portion further including means comprising a plurality of slots formed through said plate portion and arranged with respect to each other so as to be disposed generally circularly about said tubular projection whereby to form an area of stress concentration generally about said tubular projection.

6. A method of attaching an identification plate to an article to be identified, comprising the steps of forming a tubular projection integrally with said plate, inserting an expansion member comprising a shank and an enlarged end at one end of said shank into said tubular projection so as to have said enlarged end extending beyond the end of said tubular projection, forming a mounting aperture in said article, inserting said enlarged end of said expansion member and said tubular projection into a mounting aperture formed in said article, and drawing said expansion member at least partially through said tubular projection in order to press the enlarged end of said expansion member against the end of said tubular projection and radially expand said tubular projection against a portion of said article and said aperture thereby precluding withdrawal of said expanded tubular projection from said aperture.

7. The method of claim 6 including the further step of, following the drawing of said expansion member at least partially through said tubular projection, breaking said expansion member off adjacent its enlarged end.

8. The method of claim 6 including the additional step of forming a reduced diameter portion in the shank of said expansion portion adjacent said enlarged end, whereby to cause the failure of said expansion member to occur at said reduced diameter portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,794,379 3/1931 Horix 40-143 2,804,707 9/ 1957 Zmorah 4020 X 3,144,705 8/1964 Anderson 29512 X 3,272,060 9/ 1966 Morin 77 FOREIGN PATENTS 854,828 11/ 1960 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

